Home Office

The Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse’s report on Westminster

Priti Patel: Today the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse has published its latest report, which can be found at www.iicsa.org.uk. This report relates to its investigation into Westminster. I pay tribute to the strength and courage of the victims and survivors who have shared their experiences to ensure the Inquiry can deliver its vital work. Government will review this report and consider how to respond to its content in due course. I would like to thank Professor Jay and her Panel for their continued work to uncover the truth, expose what went wrong in the past and to learn the lessons for the future.


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Ministry of Defence

Nuclear Update

Mr Ben Wallace: In 2007 the Government, endorsed by a Parliamentary vote, began a programme to maintain the UK’s nuclear deterrent beyond the early 2030s. The 2015 Strategic Defence & Security Review (Cm 9161) confirmed the UK’s commitment to an independent minimum credible deterrent, reaffirmed in 2016 when the House voted overwhelmingly to maintain the Continuous At Sea Deterrence posture. Our independent nuclear deterrent is essential to defend the UK and our NATO allies against the most extreme threats to our national security and way of life. The Government’s 2019 manifesto pledged: “We will maintain our Trident nuclear deterrent, which guarantees our security”. To ensure the Government maintains an effective deterrent throughout the commission of the Dreadnought Class ballistic missile submarine we are replacing our existing nuclear warhead to respond to future threats and the security environment. As set out in our annual updates to Parliament on the Future of the UK’s Nuclear Deterrent the Ministry of Defence’s Defence Nuclear Organisation is working with the Atomic Weapons Establishment: to build the highly skilled teams and put in place the facilities and capabilities needed to deliver the replacement warhead; whilst also sustaining the current warhead until it is withdrawn from service. We will continue to work closely with the U.S. to ensure our warhead remains compatible with the Trident Strategic Weapon System. Delivery of the replacement warhead will be subject to the Government’s major programme approvals and oversight. My Department will continue to provide updates through the annual report to Parliament on the United Kingdom’s future nuclear deterrent.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Debts owed by Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations in the United Kingdom: 2018

Dominic Raab: Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials have held meetings with a number of diplomatic missions and international organisations about outstanding parking fine debt, outstanding National Non-Domestic Rates payments and unpaid Congestion Charge debt, to press for payment of outstanding fines and debts. In 2019 Protocol Directorate wrote to diplomatic missions and international organisations with debts giving them the opportunity to either pay outstanding debts, or appeal against specific fines if they considered that they had been recorded incorrectly. Parking fines: Parking fines incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in London are brought to our attention by local councils, Transport for London and the City of London.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has held meetings with missions which have substantial outstanding parking fine debts. In addition, in May 2019 we wrote to the debtors concerned giving them the opportunity either to pay their outstanding fines or appeal against them if they considered that the fines had been recorded incorrectly.The table below details those diplomatic missions and international organisations which have outstanding fines from 2018 totalling £1,000 or more, as of 2 September 2019.Diplomatic Mission/International Organisation2018Amount of Outstanding Fines(excluding London Congestion Charge)High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria£47,165Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan£19,765High Commission for the Republic of Zambia£17,000Embassy of the United Arab Emirates£11,565Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia£9,785Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire£6,405Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman£6,115Embassy of Libya£5,715Malaysian High Commission£4,900Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan£4,050High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan£4,000Office of the High Commissioner for Ghana£3,770Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania£3,731Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan£3,215Embassy of the Republic of Iraq£3,110High Commission for Sierra Leone£3,080Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia£2,750Embassy of the People's Republic of China£2,655Embassy of the State of Kuwait£2,600People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria£2,420Embassy of the State of Qatar£2,280Embassy of the Republic of Angola£2,210Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan£2,150Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany£2,005Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt£1,890High Commission for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka£1,885High Commission for the Republic of Cameroon£1,780Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia£1,630Embassy of the Republic of Liberia£1,445Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan£1,430Office of the High Commissioner for India£1,365Uzbekistan£1,315High Commission of Canada£1,260Embassy of the Russian Federation£1,235Embassy of France£1,200Embassy of the Republic of Poland£1,190Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan£1,145Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran£1,105Embassy of the Kingdom of Bahrain£1,085High Commission for the Republic of South Africa£1,085Embassy of the Republic of Yemen£1,080Embassy of Brazil£1,040Royal Thai Embassy£1,040High Commission for Kenya£1,020Embassy of the United States of America£1,015High Commission of the United Republic of Tanzania£1,005 National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR): The majority of diplomatic missions in the United Kingdom pay the National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) due from them. Diplomatic missions and international organisations are obliged to pay only 6% of the total NNDR value of their offices. This represents payment for specific services received such as street cleaning and street lighting.Representations by Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to missions in 2018 led to the settlement of outstanding debts by a number of missions. £73,589 of the outstanding debt is owed by the Embassy of the Syrian Arab Republic – which is not currently represented in the UK and we have therefore been unable to pursue this debt. We continue to urge all those with NNDR debt to pay their dues.The Missions listed below owed over £10,000 in respect of NNDR:Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan£164,178Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran£143,217Embassy of the Republic of Zimbabwe£124,175Embassy of Libya£94,519Embassy of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria£92,830Embassy of the Republic of Iraq£88,568High Commission for the Republic of Zambia£74,794High Commission for Sierra Leone£70,088High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan£64,492Malaysian High Commission£59,578Uganda High Commission£52,254Embassy of the Russian Federation£47,642Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia£41,658High Commission for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka£37,001High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria£36,975Embassy of the Republic of Liberia£36,149Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire£32,525Kingdom of Eswatini High Commission£29,860Embassy of the Republic of Korea£26,896Embassy of the State of Qatar£25,028Embassy of the United States of America£23,694Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar£18,808Embassy of Tunisia£15,791Embassy of Romania£13,891Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea£13,300Embassy of the Republic of Angola£12,293Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania£12,143Embassy of the Republic of Yemen£11,964The Gambia High Commission£11,716Embassy of the Republic of Haiti£10,413 London Congestion Charge: The value of unpaid Congestion Charge debt incurred by diplomatic missions and international organisations in London since its introduction in February 2003 until 31 December 2018 as advised by Transport for London (TfL) was £116,868,825. The table below shows those diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines of £100,000 or more. FCO officials write to diplomatic missions and international organisations with large Congestion Charge debts annually, to encourage payment.COUNTRYNUMBER OF FINESTOTAL OUTSTANDINGEmbassy of the United States of America102,255£12,446,845Embassy of Japan69,690£8,510,650High Commission for the Federal Republic of Nigeria58,102£7,063,965Office of the High Commissioner for India47,654£6,009,905Embassy of the Russian Federation48,535£5,721,865Embassy of the People's Republic of China38,528£5,051,880Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany37,275£4,373,170Embassy of the Republic of Poland35,020£4,345,760Office of the High Commissioner for Ghana31,895£3,959,775Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan26,717£3,358,585The Embassy of the Republic of the Sudan28,155£3,353,420High Commission for Kenya22,813£2,750,760High Commission for the Islamic Republic of Pakistan18,197£2,305,230Embassy of France18,783£2,273,440High Commission for the United Republic of Tanzania17,038£2,025,070Embassy of the Republic of Korea16,194£2,020,120Embassy of Spain16,425£1,979,560Embassy of the Republic of Cuba14,385£1,806,960Embassy of Algeria14,206£1,727,030High Commission for the Republic of South Africa13,931£1,651,440Embassy of Romania13,579£1,627,200High Commission for Sierra Leone13,148£1,575,455Embassy of Ukraine12,310£1,464,070Embassy of Greece12,261£1,456,930High Commission for the Republic of Cyprus9,396£1,152,870Embassy of Hungary9,508£1,150,360High Commission for the Republic of Zambia8,333£1,011,010Embassy of the Republic of Yemen7,879£949,660Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria7,139£840,390High Commission for Botswana6,186£768,040Embassy of the Republic of Turkey5,797£752,240High Commission for the Republic of Malawi5,958£722,145High Commission for the Republic of Cameroon6,117£721,420High Commission of the Republic of Mozambique5,812£706,960Embassy of the Republic of Belarus5,931£700,965Embassy of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia5,631£668,150Embassy of the Slovak Republic5,566£653,980High Commission for the Republic of Namibia5,472£646,070High Commission for the Republic of Zimbabwe5,561£643,945Kingdom of Eswatini High Commission5,377£636,350Embassy of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire5,219£635,660High Commission for Malta4,857£596,975Embassy of the Republic of Lithuania4,694£590,985High Commission for Mauritius4,655£559,575Embassy of Austria4,584£556,740Embassy of the Republic of Liberia4,332£542,030Embassy of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea4,550£537,690Uganda High Commission4,243£519,580High Commission for the Kingdom of Lesotho4,157£491,960Embassy of Belgium3,812£463,220Embassy of the Islamic State of Afghanistan3,512£427,840Embassy of the Czech Republic3,648£426,270Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam3,556£425,800Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco3,228£423,790High Commission for the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka3,043£397,480High Commission for Jamaica3,173£385,020Royal Danish Embassy3,076£370,555Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo2,932£369,440Embassy of the Republic of South Sudan2,759£357,990Embassy of Tunisia2,798£357,840Embassy of the Republic of Iraq2,467£323,920Embassy of Portugal2,357£292,280Embassy of the Republic of Latvia2,332£285,870High Commission for Antigua & Barbuda2,277£281,795Embassy of Finland2,273£278,010Embassy of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea2,297£267,640Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia2,072£260,930Embassy of Luxembourg2,031£245,155Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt2,299£243,220High Commission for Belize1,906£243,090Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia1,845£204,980Embassy of the Republic of Guinea1,731£192,030Embassy of Estonia1,461£181,140Embassy of the State of Eritrea1,315£158,950High Commission for Guyana1,262£154,010Embassy of the Dominican Republic1,245£150,090High Commission of the Republic of Seychelles1,127£145,455Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan1,052£139,750High Commission of the Republic of Maldives1,086£136,130Embassy of El Salvador996£126,445Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania1,060£115,170Embassy of the Republic of Albania839£108,800Embassy of the Republic of Moldova876£106,630Figures for previous years are available in the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ written statement to the House on 18 December 2018 (HCWS1204) which can be found at: https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-12-18/HCWS1204/  


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Alleged Serious and Significant Offences (Diplomatic Immunity): 2018

Dominic Raab: In 2018, three serious and significant offences allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the United Kingdom were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office by Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection of the Metropolitan Police Service, or other law enforcement agencies. All of these were driving-related. We define serious offences as those which could, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months’ imprisonment or more. Also included are driving under the influence and driving without insurance.Around 23,000 people are entitled to diplomatic or international organisation-related immunity in the UK and the majority of diplomats and dependants abide by UK law. The number of alleged serious offences committed by members of the diplomatic community in the UK is proportionately low.Under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, we expect those entitled to immunity to obey the law. The FCO does not tolerate foreign diplomats or dependants breaking the law.We take all allegations of illegal activity seriously. When the police or other law enforcement agency bring instances of alleged criminal conduct to our attention, we ask the relevant foreign government or international organisation to waive immunity where appropriate. For the most serious offences, and when a relevant waiver has not been granted, we request the immediate withdrawal of the diplomat or dependant.Listed below are alleged serious and significant offences reported to the FCO by UK law enforcement agencies in 2018.2018Driving under the influence of alcohol (a) (b)Saudi Arabia 2Driving under the influence of alcohol & dangerous driving (b)Saudi Arabia 1(a) One person was responsible for the two allegations of driving under the influence of alcohol.(b) Owing to the serious nature of the alleged offences, both individuals were expelled from the diplomatic mission.Figures for the previous year are available in the Secretary for State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs’ written statement to the House on 18 December 2018 (HCWS1197) which can be found at https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-12-18/HCWS1197/ .


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Department of Health and Social Care

Government Response to the Consultation on the draft Human Tissue (Permitted Material: Exceptions) (England) Regulations 2020

Helen Whately: The Organ Donation (Deemed Consent) Act 2019 heralds a new system of consent for organ and tissue donation in England. Subject to Parliament’s approval of the secondary legislation and Code of Practice for healthcare professionals, the new system is intended to start in England from 20 May 2020.Under the new system, known as “opt out” or “deemed consent”, people over 18 in England will be considered to have agreed to donate their organs and tissue after death, except where:• they made a decision to not donate their organs and/or tissue, i.e. they have opted out;• they have nominated a representative to make a decision on their behalf after death about whether to donate; or• they are in one of the excluded groups: under the age of 18; ordinarily resident in England for less than 12 months before their death; lacked mental capacity to understand the new system for a significant period before their death.The Government held a 12-week public consultation from 29 April to 22 July 2019 to seek views on a proposed list of organs, tissues and cells to exclude from deemed consent and which should therefore continue to require express consent before they can be removed, stored or used for transplantation. The list of organs, tissues and cells to exclude from deemed consent was set out in the draft “Human Tissue (Permitted Material): Exceptions (England) Regulations”. The Government received over 3,200 responses across different demographics which provided rich data on the questions asked.The Government Response to the consultation on the regulations has been laid before Parliament today (CP 224), alongside the revised draft “Human Tissue (Permitted Material): Exceptions (England) Regulations 2020” and the Human Tissue Authority’s Codes of Practice for healthcare professionals setting out practical guidance about deemed consent. Copies of the Government Response, the regulations and the Codes of Practice are available to hon. Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office, along with the Government Response being published on GOV.UK at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/opt-out-organ-donation-organs-and-tissues-excluded-from-the-new-system.To address the issues raised in the consultation, the Government has:i) updated the list of what is excluded from deemed consent to clarify further that tissue from sexual and reproductive organs (including skin) will not be transplanted without express consent;ii) expanded the list featuring the parts of the male and the female reproductive system;iii) reviewed the list to clarify further that specific tissues (for example bone, skin and muscle) will be transplanted under deemed consent if the tissue is to be used for a routine transplant. As now, if the tissue is needed for a rare transplant this will require express consent; andiv) expanded the list of proposed Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products (ATMPs) to exclude from deemed consent. Although the Government recognises the benefits of ATMPs, use of ATMPs from deceased donors is novel and it is appropriate that express consent is in place when cells are donated. To make the public aware of the new system of consent, NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) launched a communication campaign on behalf of Government in April 2019. A number of platforms have been used since then to raise public awareness of the new system, more recently through TV and radio adverts, along with public advertising with specific targeting of people with different backgrounds, faith and beliefs. NHSBT will continue their awareness campaign, also working with GP practices, schools and BAME communities to address barriers to organ donation.


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Treasury

Public Service Pension Scheme Indexation and Revaluation 2020

Steve Barclay: Legislation governing public service pensions requires them to be increased annually by the same percentage as additional pensions (State Earnings Related Pension and State Second Pension). Public service pensions will therefore be increased from 6 April 2020 by 1.7 per cent, in line with the annual increase in the Consumer Prices Index up to September 2019, except for those public service pensions which have been in payment for less than a year, which will receive a pro-rata increase.Separately, in the career average public service pension schemes introduced in 2014 and 2015, pensions in accrual are revalued annually in relation to either prices or earnings depending on the terms specified in their scheme regulations. The Public Service Pensions Act 2013 requires HM Treasury to specify a measure of prices and of earnings to be used for revaluation by these schemes.The prices measure is the Consumer Prices Index up to September 2019. Public service schemes which rely on a measure of prices, therefore, will use the figure of 1.7 per cent for the prices element of revaluation.The earnings measure is the whole economy year on year change in average weekly earnings (non-seasonally adjusted and including bonuses and arrears) up to September 2019. Public service schemes which rely on a measure of earnings, therefore, will use the figure of 4 per cent for the earnings element of revaluation.Revaluation is one part of the amount of pension that members earn in a year and needs to be considered in conjunction with the amount of in-year accrual. Typically, schemes with lower revaluation will have faster accrual and therefore members will earn more pension per year.The following list shows how the main public service schemes will be affected by revaluation: SchemePoliceFireCivilServiceNHSTeachersLGPSArmedForcesJudicialRevaluation for active member2.95%4%1.7%3.2%3.3%1.7%4%1.7%


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Finance Bill 2020

Jesse Norman: The Finance Bill will be published on 19 March. Explanatory notes on the Bill will be available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office and placed in the Libraries of the House on that day. Copies of the explanatory notes will also be available on GOV.UK.As usual, a full copy of the Budget resolutions will be made available after the Chancellor’s Budget statement on 11 March. This includes resolutions made under the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968 for those measures that are expected to come into effect ahead of Finance Bill Royal Assent.In line with the approach to tax policy making set out in the Government’s documents ‘Tax Policy Making: a new approach’, published in 2010, and ‘The new Budget timetable and the tax policy making process’, published in 2017, the Government published draft legislation for Finance Bill 2020 on 11 July 2019, which is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/finance-bill-2019-20.The Government remains committed to legislating those measures published in July 2019, subject to confirmation at Budget 2020.


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